The Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health called on all stakeholders to pledge voluntary actions to achieve a 50% reduction in the health impacts of air pollution by 2040. This target will be monitored at country level and aggregated to derive a global estimate of progress, with 2015 values serving as the baseline.

Co-organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Colombia, with the support of the Government of Spain and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the World Bank, among other UN agencies, the Conference took place in Cartagena, Colombia, from 24-28 March 2025. In an effort to accelerate action for clean air, clean energy access, and climate change mitigation, the Conference highlighted policy solutions to catalyze evidence-based, multi-sectoral actions in cities, countries, and regions.

“Today air pollution is the first risk factor for disease burden,” said WHO’s Director of Environment, Climate Change and Health Maria Neira. “It’s the number one risk factor for getting sick.” Noting the overlap between the causes of climate change and air pollution, Neira called for clean air solutions, including renewable energy, better urban design, and fossil fuels phaseout. “We have a lot to gain for health, for the economy, and for society… if we accelerate this transition,” she underscored. 

Countries such as Brazil, Spain, China, and the UK presented national roadmaps to halve the health impacts of air pollution by 2040. The Clean Air Fund pledged an additional USD 90 million for climate and health programmes. Member cities of the C40 network vowed to strengthen air quality monitoring and promote greater investment in clean air strategies.

Ahead of the Conference, WHO published a ‘Call to Action from Health Community,’ urging governments, decision makers, donors, and the private sector “to clean the air for all” by:

• Enforcing robust measures to stop polluting the air, cutting emissions at their source, and achieving the full implementation of WHO global air quality guidelines;
• Ensuring a just and inclusive clean energy transition and fossil fuel phaseout;
• Strengthening actions for clean air, monitoring and surveillance, and institutional capacity to limit air pollution and mitigate climate change;
• Increasing domestic and international funding to elevate clean air as a priority on global and national health and political agendas; and
• Building intersectoral workforces with the skills and capacity to design and implement policies to tackle air pollution.

More than 47 million health and care workers, patients’ groups, members of civil society organizations (CSOs), and individuals have expressed support for the ask, committing to lead by example. [WHO Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health] [UN News Story]